Latching mechanism



April 4, 1933. A. 1.. KERR 1,903,321

LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-shew, l

Inventor fl/va Z. Kerr f1 llorney April 4, 1933. R 1,903,327

LATCHING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 21. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Aim Z. A??? Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES,

.AIlVA L. KERR, or MANSFIELD; OHIO narcnme MECHANISM Application filed September 21, Serial No. 6342415;

This invention relates to a latching mechanism which is mainly intended for heavy doors, such as the doors of ofiice buildings, hospitals and various types of public buildings, where stiff door checks or-snubbers are used to keep the doors tightly closed until the latch has first opened and after which a fairly stiff pull is required to open the door. The general object of the invention is toprovide a new type of latch mechanism which can be operated from one side by a simple pull on a handle and from the opposite side by a push on another handle. I

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an edge view, with parts in section of the invention, as the same would be applied to a door.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the handles and one of the plates. r

In these drawings, the numeral 1 indicates pair of plates which are adapted to be fastened at the opposite sides of the door or the like, and each plate has the ears 2 on its ex terior face between which passes the substantially horizontal part 3 of a substantially L-shaped handle 4, the major portion of which depends from the part 3 as shown. The part 3 is pivoted between the ears as shown at 5, and an inner section 6 is adjustably connected to the inner end 3 by the screw and slot connections shown generally at 7 This permits the part 6 to be removed and also adjusted lengthwise so that the device can be used on doors of different thicknesses.

The inner end of the part 6 is form-ed with the teeth 8 and with an upstanding head part 9. A pinion 10 is located in the casing 11 into which the parts 6 extend from opposite sides as shown in Fig. 1. This pinion is arranged between thetooth portions of the two parts 6 and the teethengage theteeth ofthtWO' 7 parts as also shownin Fig. 1.

A lever 12 has an ofiset, cam-shaped upper end through which a set screw 13 is threaded, 5

the levernormally held against astop 14 by a spring 15, as shown in-Fig.2.- A set screw 16 is carried by the lower end of the lever and engages a slot 17. in the latch or boltmembe'r.

18. A spring19 in the topof the casing bears against the heads9, ,etain'ing an equalized tension on 'same at all times. 1

A set screw 20 may be threaded' in either side ofthe casing or housing 11 and acts to limit'the drop of thatpart 6 with which it is associated though permitting upward move- 'ment of said part 6. By making thisset screw interchangeable from left or right side of. the housing and byproviding 3 the set..,

screws 13 andll6, the mechanism can be used for either right or left hand doors as theset I screw 13 keeps the cam lever 12 at the proper side of the housing and'thesetsbrew 16 serves thesame purpose and also. guides andidraws the latch bolt under theaction ofthe lever 12..

Thus it will be seen that movement of one handle 4 is imparted to the other handle by 1 the pinions so that a pull on one handle will cause the pinion to raise the head of the other handle and cause saidhead to swing the le- 30 ver 12to movethe latch bolt 18 to released position. A push on the handle will cause its head to operate the lever to move the latch boltto released'position. 1 I

7 Thus when one is entering adoor which opens from him, regardless ofwhether the door is hinged at the right or the left,.asone faces it, a's'imple push upon the handle unlatches thedoor, and that same push con-j tinued, opens the door, while-in entering the same door from the opposite-side, in which i case the'door must swing toward one,-a simple pull .unlatches the door and opensit.

The pinion is fixed so that it can neither move up nor down and from this it is readily seen that'when one set of teeth move upward,

thepinion rolls thus forcing the oppositeset of -teeth downward, and in like manner, if this downward set of teeth is moved down. ward first, the pinion rolls thus forcing-the opposite set of teeth upward. The reason for making this device for either right or left doors is so that the same lock can be used whether the customer wishes. to hinge his door at the right or at the left as he faces same. It will of course be understood that a lock of cylindrical type can be used with themechani'sm if desired.

1 It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may-be made in the construction and in the combina tion and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims. 7 I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Latching mechanism of the class described comprising a housing, a latch bolt having a portion located therein, a lever 113V", ing an offset upper end of cam shape located in the housing, a pin andslot connection between the bolt and the lower end of the lever,

a pair of oppositely arranged handle members having portions entering the housing, said portions having toothed ends, a pinion located in the housing and arrangedbetween said endsand engaging the teeth thereof, each of said handle parts having a head portion for engaging the cam end of the lever for swinging the sarnewhen the head partis raised to move the latch boltto released position, and a spring for normally holding the leiver in a position with the latch bolt project- 2. Latch niechanism of the class described comprising a housing, a latch bolt having a portion located therein, a lever having an offset upper end of cam shape locatedin the housing, a pin and slot connection between the bolt and'the lower end of the lever, a pair of oppositely arranged handle -members having portions entering the housing, said portions having toothed' ends, a pinion located in the-housing and arranged between said ends vand engagingthe teeth thereofieach of said handle parts havinga head portion for engaging the cam end ofthe lever for swinging the same when the hand part is raised to move the latch bolt to released position, a spring for normally holding the lever in a position with the latch bolt projected, means for adjusting the parts for right or left hand doors, means for adjusting the inner end portion of p .the handle part for different thicknesses of doors, and a spring in the housing engaging the upper ends of the handle parts for retaining an equalized tension on the handle parts at all times. 7

- In testimony whereof I affix my signature. ALVA L. KERR. 

